Members of the All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha (AIKMS) held captive over six policemen and damaged their jeep and two motorcycles,following a clash in Padua on Saturday.

The villagers accused the local police of patronising a sand contractor and former village pradhan Naseeb,who had allegedly extorted illegal tax from sand workers. The policemen were let off late on Saturday night when senior officers assured the villagers that a case of extortion will be registered against Naseeb.

On Friday night,Naseeb and his associates had allegedly beaten up Shiv Bihari,Punni Lal and six others of Padua village for opposing the tax. The police,reportedly under pressure from a Bahujan Samaj Party leader,had lodged an FIR against eight workers.

When a police team went to Padua to arrest the workers on Saturday,the villagers clashed with them. Rakesh,a physically-handicapped youth,Ganga,a Dalit and one Shyamlal,suffered serious injuries. Reinforcements,including the Provincial Armed Constabulary,had to be called in to control the situation.

Superintendent of Police (Trans-Yamuna) V K Mishra said: The police went to arrest the villagers named in an FIR. But they were attacked.

Lalapur Station Officer (SO) D S Verma was instructed to investigate the matter and lodge an FIR against Naseeb and others,if they were involved in extortion,he added. Late on Saturday night,the AIKMS activists withdrew their agitation and demanded for the suspension of the Lalpur SO.